This brisk narrative charts the history of the United States Navy from its birth during the American Revolution through its emergence as a global power amid the world wars of the twentieth century and finally to its current role as a superpower in the twenty-first century. Craig Symonds traces the dramatic changes in technology from the Age of Sail to the modern era of missile and electronic warfare; provides analysis of the evolving culture of the Navy as an institution; and explores the shifting debate among policymakers about what role, if any, an American navy should play in world affairs. For most of American history, the size and character of the U.S. Navy changed dramatically in reaction to various internal and external challenges as periods of quiet torpor were followed by moments of frenetic expansion in response to a crisis. This centuries-long history has been punctuated by iconic moments of great drama, and these, too, are part of the story. From John Paul Jones in the Revolution, to Stephen Decatur in the Barbary Wars, to David G. Farragut at Mobile, to the Navy pilots who flew in the Battle of Midway, this book explains both the pivotal events and the historical context that made them part of America's legacy.